Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday apologized to the people for imposing a 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.

In his address to the nation on his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat, Modi said, “I apologize for the kind of decisions I had to make.”

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“Most of them must be angry with me for imposing this lockdown and asking them to stay in their homes,” he added.

“But I had no choice but to make these decisions to fight the coronavirus. No one wants to take these decisions but if you look at the world you need to take these decisions,” he said.

Modi also saluted the doctors, nurses and paramedics who are working day and night outside their homes to fight against COVID-19.

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“There are many soldiers who are fighting Coronavirus, not from their homes but from outside their homes,” the PM said.

“These are our front line soldiers-especially our brothers and sisters on duty as nurses, doctors & paramedical staff,” he added.

“I was extremely hurt when I came to know that some people are misbehaving with those who are being advised home quarantine. We need to be sensitive and understanding,” he further said.

“Increase social distancing but reduce emotional distancing,” he added.

He also appreciated the people who had gone into quarantine even without showing any symptoms of COVID-19.